- How to identify the syndrome
- How the diagnosis is made
- What can cause the syndrome
- How the treatment is done
The mouth breather syndrome arises when breathing through the nose is largely replaced by breathing through the mouth, which can appear from childhood. This change can happen due to a problem in the respiratory tract, such as deviation of the nasal septum, polyps or airway obstruction, by common colds that obstruct the nose, sinusitis, allergies, or by incorrect posture developed without a specific cause.
Although breathing through your mouth does not put your life at risk, as it continues to allow air to enter your lungs, this habit, over the years, can cause slight changes in the anatomy of the face, especially in the positioning of the tongue, lips and head, difficulty of concentration, due to reduced oxygen in the brain, cavities or gum problems, due to lack of saliva. In addition, there is a greater risk of infections such as colds, flu or sinusitis, because the nose is no longer filtering the inspired air.
Thus, the mouth breathing syndrome should be identified as soon as possible, especially in children, so that the habit is broken and face changes do not appear.
How to identify the syndrome
A person with mouth breather syndrome can usually be identified from some signs or symptoms such as:
- Lips often parted; Excessive accumulation of saliva; Dry and persistent cough; Dry mouth and bad breath; Decreased smell and taste; Shortness of breath; Easy tiredness when performing physical activity; Snoring; Changes in posture; Narrow and elongated face.
In addition, it is also common for the person suffering from mouth breather syndrome to take many breaks while eating to allow breathing.
In children, on the other hand, other alarm signs may appear, such as slower than normal growth, constant irritability, problems with concentration at school and difficulty sleeping at night.
How the diagnosis is made
There is no test or exam to diagnose the mouth breather syndrome and, therefore, it is very important to consult an otolaryngologist or pediatrician, in the case of the child, to assess the symptoms and identify the problem. In some cases, the doctor may ask several questions about sleep patterns or frequency of infections to try to find the cause.
In other cases, the syndrome can be discovered only when the otorhino identifies a change in the airways that prevents the person from breathing normally, for example.
What can cause the syndrome
Mouth breather syndrome is usually caused by organic, functional factors or bad habits, such as:
- Tonsils and adenoids larger than normal; Deviation of the nasal septum; Nasal polyps; Changes in bone development; Rhinitis; Allergies; Sinusitis; Tumors.
In addition, people with changes in the shape of the nose or jaw also have a greater tendency to breathe through the mouth and develop this type of syndrome. When the cause is eliminated, the person can continue to breathe through the mouth due to the habit they have created.
In other cases, the syndrome may arise due only to the habit of breathing through the mouth, which happens more often in people who suffer from excessive stress or anxiety, and there is no need for a respiratory problem.
How the treatment is done
The treatment of mouth breather syndrome is carried out by a team that may consist of doctors, dentists and speech therapists, who work together to eliminate the causes of the syndrome and to carry out rehabilitation.
If the syndrome is being caused by changes in the airways, such as deviated septum or swollen tonsils, surgery may be necessary to correct the problem and allow air to pass through the nose again.
In cases where the person starts to breathe through the mouth due to a habit, it is necessary to identify whether that habit is being caused by stress or anxiety, and if it is, it is recommended to consult a psychologist or participate in relaxing activities such as yoga, which allow to relieve tension while helping to train breathing.
